One Sweet World

Note: Any words that are underlined is a link. I've linked up several things on this post!

12.23.08

12.23.09

12.23.10

12.23.11

12.23.12

I realize it sounds so cliche, but I just can't believe it's been FOUR years since the little boy who made me a mommy entered the world! He brings unending joy and happiness to our hearts, and we are so thankful that we get to be his parents. In the past 4 years, not a day has gone by that he hasn't made us laugh. We are so proud of the little guy he is becoming - He loves learning, so thoughtful and empathetic, helpful, happy and loving, the best protective and caring big brother, soooo funny, loves LIFE, full of energy, strong-willed and determined, extremely social, and I could go on and on, but the word that sums him up is AWESOME! Happy Birthday, Budgie Boy. We love you so much!

Jack has had a great birthday week, kicked off by their annual boys-only camping trip. He loves all things wilderness (and of course having Daddy's undivided attention all day), and they had a great time!

We had a fun play date party on Saturday. I tried to keep it as low key as possible since we don't really have an accommodating house for entertaining. I think we still ended up with around 25 people. It was a lot of chaos, but the kids had a blast, and that was the goal. Here are the very few pictures I took (I was slightly occupied.):

His big gift this year was a new big boy bike. He loves it!

It was frigid outside, so Jack wasn't too into posing for me. But here are a few from his Four Year Photo Shoot:

Today he gets a mommy date. Ms. Lisa is keeping the girls while Jack and I go downtown Orlando to see a play, Junior Clause at the Orlando Repertory Theater. We went to see Seussical the Musical a while back and had a great time, so I thought tickets to another play would be a great birthday gift.

I started this tradition last year, where I ask them the same questions each year on their birthday. I thought it was very interesting and funny that a year later, he still had some of the exact same answers. Below is verbatim what his responses were. So, here you have it - direct quotes from Mr. Jack, himself from our Annual Birthday Interview:

What is your name? my name? me? Jack.
How old are you? uhh, 3. How old am I going to be? uhh 4. (This is very true, as I'm asking these questions a week early.)
What is your favorite color? uhh, red and black and green and orange and purple and yellow
What is your favorite toy? uhh, Woody
What is your favorite food? uhh, umm...English Muffin
What is your favorite fruit? um, oranges. I mean Cuties. Cuties, Cuties, mom.
What is your favorite vegetable? vegetable? I don't like vegetables. You mean like peas or carrots?
What is your favorite T.V. show? Dora the Explorer. I mean Diego! Diego! Diego!
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? um, um, um...English Muffin
What is your favorite outfit? uhh the long sleeved shirt with stripes that mom bought me
What is your favorite game? uhh, um, um...Fruit China (aka Fruit Ninja)
What is your favorite snack? Muffins
What is your favorite animal? uhh, a cow
What is your favorite song? uhh, umm...Old MacDonald Had a Farm (He then went into the entire song.)
What is your favorite book? um, um, um, hmmm... How Did the Grinch Stole Christmas
Who is your best friend? Daddy.
What about your best friend that is a kid? Gracie.
What is your favorite kind of cereal? uhh Sticky Cheerios (Honey Nut Cheerios)
What is your favorite thing to do outside? uhh, run down the hill
What is your favorite thing to drink? uhh, milk
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? umm, a peanut butter sandwich
What is your favorite movie? uhh, Puss in Boots
Where do you want to work when you get older? uhh, fire station
Do you like school? (shakes head, yes), uh huh
Who is your teacher? uhh, Miss Baker
Who do you play with the most at school? uhh, Max and James...and Jacob! Jacob!
What is your favorite thing to do at school? uhhh, eat (Colin was in the room and asked him it again to see if he would get a better answer. He said, "play." Then Colin said, "come on." Jack replied, "I am comin' on. Play!!")
Do you take a nap every day? yes (not true)
What do you want for your birthday dinner? um, um, um a firetruck peanut butter sandwich. a firetruck peanut butter sandwich. (hmm, guess I need to find a fire truck cookie cutter.)
New Questions This Year: What gift would you like for your birthday this year? I would wish for a Cars 2 blanket.
What's on your wish list for Santa? um, a jolly happy soul
What makes your really happy? um, um treats
What makes you feel proud? um. What makes me proud is hugging and kisses and I'm proud of really good stuff and stickers.
What makes you feel scared? um...dark
What makes you feel excited? Disney World
What makes you feel sad? What makes me feel sad is sore boo boos and when someone pinches me. Can I go out and watch the movie now?
What else would you like to say? umm...nothing else

This is a house of EARLY, EARLY morning risers lately! I was laughing (sort of) this morning thinking that by the hour of seven o'clock A.M., I had unloaded the dishwasher, made beds, done a load of laundry, made, served, and cleaned up breakfast for 3, and bathed both girls; The kids had finger painted, colored, played with play dough, and had a Christmas music dance party. Any tips about getting these kids to sleep in later are welcomed, although I'm pretty sure we've tried everything. The only suggestion I won't try is putting them down later in the evenings, because no matter what time we put them down, they are up between 5 and 6. Needless to say, we are a couple of exhausted parents! I have to admit that this is probably the most challenging "phase" so far. Their age combinations are just extremely difficult. But everything is great... We definitely have lots of love and fun in our house too, and we know by now that everything is just a phase.

The rest of my pictures from Santa's Christmas Tree Forest:

Unloading our tree - They actually gave us a different tree than what we had picked. I think the one we paid for was $60, and this is definitely a $100 tree, but I'm not complaining! It's a great tree. I'm determined to get a good picture for the virtual Christmas card that I'm going to create. Coming soon!